No clue given for Illinois tax refund delay

4 months later, Elmhurst resident was still waiting for refund

It was a fairly straightforward state tax return. Virginia Todd filled out the Illinois form and sent it in Feb. 16.

A friend filed with the state's Department of Revenue on the same day and received her refund in early March.

Encouraged by her friend's experience, Todd kept checking her mailbox. Each day was the same: Her refund check of $1,000 didn't arrive.

The 69-year-old Elmhurst resident said she called the state three times. Each time, she was told the Department of Revenue had received her paperwork but her refund had not been processed.

Frustrated, Todd contacted her state senator, Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst). She said Cronin's office told her the refund was held up because the state needed more information. But the state never specified what documents it needed and never asked Todd for any additional material.

"I'm a senior citizen and I've been filing [taxes] for a long time. It's a simple form," she said after contacting What's Your Problem? "I just don't understand it. It's been more than four months."

Todd said most of the $1,000 was the result of her withholding too much money when she drew funds from an individual retirement account. She said she had no problem estimating her taxes when she drew from the IRA in past years, but had additional expenses last year and took out more money than usual.

"It was just a big miscalculation on my part," she said.

She counted on the refund arriving months ago.

"I could sure use the money," Todd said.

The Problem Solver called Illinois Department of Revenue spokeswoman Susan Hofer, who said she could look into Todd's delayed tax return, but privacy laws prohibited her from speaking about Todd's case.

Less than a week later, on Monday, Todd received a $1,000 check from the state in the mail.

Hofer said that, in general, tax returns filed electronically are processed within a week, while returns sent in the mail can take longer.

"It's slower because everything has to be checked by hand," she said.

Still, a four-month wait is unusual, Hofer said. In some cases, returns are delayed due to math errors, or if some information is missing, she said.

"Any kind of anomaly would potentially cause a delay in processing," Hofer said.

Hofer said the delay had nothing to do with the state's financial situation. Money for income tax refunds is placed in a separate fund, she said.

"The money is there for you when you file for a refund," Hofer said.

Todd isn't convinced. She said she still doesn't know why it took so long for her to get her money, and no one from the state explained why it finally arrived Monday.

Whatever the reason, she's glad to have the $1,000. "I've never had a problem like this before," she said. "It's just unbelievable they were holding off."

Todd said she will act with more haste than the state. She planned to deposit the check immediately.

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